Ronald Reagan on Families & Children

	Ronald Reagan on Families & Children President of the U.S., 1981-1989; Republican Governor (CA)

All great change in America begins at the dinner table

Abiding Ronald Reagan's observation that "all great change in America begins at the dinner table," conservatives love real life, ordered liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (with no guarantees of finding it). They are aware of their mortality and time' march, so they've got no time for BS (brooding solipsists). Creative, entrepreneurial, patriotic, and admittedly imperfect, conservatives accept their lot and thank the Lord for it. Source: Seize Freedom, by Rep. Thad McCotter, p.186 , Feb 8, 2011

Breakdown of the family causes "welfare culture"

As we work to make the American dream real for all, we must also look to the condition of America's families. Struggling parents today worry how they will provide their children the advantages that their parents gave them. In the welfare culture, the breakdown of the family, the most basic support system, has reached crisis proportions: female and child poverty, child abandonment, horrible crimes, and deteriorating schools. After hundreds of billions of dollars in poverty programs, the plight of the poor grows more painful. But the waste in dollars and cents pales before the most tragic loss: the sinful waste of human spirit and potential. We can ignore this terrible truth no longer.

Tonight I am charging the White House Domestic Council to present an evaluation of programs and a strategy for immediate action to meet the financial, educational, social, and safety concerns of poor families. The success of welfare should be judged by how many of its recipients become independent of welfare.

Source: Pres. Reagan's 1986 State of the Union message to Congress , Feb 4, 1986

As the family goes, so goes our civilization

Tonight America is stronger because of the values that we hold dear. We believe faith and freedom must be our guiding stars, for they show us truth, they make us brave, give us hope, and leave us wiser than we were. Our progress began not in Washington, DC, but in the hearts of our families, communities, workplaces, and voluntary groups which, together, are unleashing the invincible spirit of one great nation under God.

For an America of wisdom that honors the family, knowing that as the family goes, so goes our civilization;
For an America of vision that sees tomorrow's dreams in the learning and hard work we do today;
For an America of courage whose service men and women, even as we meet, proudly stand watch on the frontiers of freedom;
For an America of compassion that opens its heart to those who cry out for help.

We have begun well. But it's only a beginning. Source: Pres. Reagan's 1985 State of the Union message to Congress , Feb 6, 1985

Bedrock values: faith, family, work, neighborhood

The heart of America is strong; it's good and true. The cynics were wrong; America never was a sick society. We're seeing rededication to bedrock values of faith, family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom--values that help bring us together as one people, from the youngest child to the most senior citizen.

Our greatest hope for the future is the minds and hearts of our people, especially our children. We can help them build tomorrow by strengthening our community of shared values. This must be our great goal. For us, faith, work, family, neighborhood, freedom, and peace are not just words; they're expressions of what America means, definitions of what makes us a good and loving people. Families stand at the center of our society.

Source: Pres. Reagan's 1984 State of the Union message to Congress , Jan 25, 1984

Unwed mothers are better off keeping their babies

We must continue to lay the groundwork for a society in which abortion is not the accepted answer to unwanted pregnancy. Pro-life people have already taken heroic steps, often at great personal sacrifice, to provide for unwed mothers. Sav-a-Life, a group in Dallas, provides a way for unwed mothers to preserve human life within them when they might otherwise be tempted to resort to abortion. They have seen, as a fact of life, that all girls are NOT better off having abortions than saving their babies.

The Adolescent Family Life Program has opened new opportunities for unwed mothers to give their children life. We should not rest until our entire society can echo the always-practical woman of faith, Mother Teresa, when she says, "If you don't want the little child, that unborn child, give him to me." We have so many families in America seeking to adopt children that the slogan "every child a wanted child: is now the emptiest of all reasons to tolerate abortion.

Source: Abortion and the Conscience of a Nation, p. 15 , Jan 1, 1984

Click here for definitions & background information on Families & Children. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Ronald Reagan. Click here for AmericansElect.org quiz by Ronald Reagan.
*Other past presidents on Families & Children:*	*Ronald Reagan on other issues:*
*Former Presidents:* Barack Obama(D,2009-2017) George W. Bush(R,2001-2009) Bill Clinton(D,1993-2001) George Bush Sr.(R,1989-1993) Ronald Reagan(R,1981-1989) Jimmy Carter(D,1977-1981) Gerald Ford(R,1974-1977) Richard Nixon(R,1969-1974) Lyndon Johnson(D,1963-1969) John F. Kennedy(D,1961-1963) Dwight Eisenhower(R,1953-1961) Harry S Truman(D,1945-1953) *Past Vice Presidents:* V.P.Joseph Biden V.P.Dick Cheney V.P.Al Gore V.P.Dan Quayle Sen.Bob Dole *Political Parties:* Republican Party Democratic Party Libertarian Party Green Party Reform Party Natural Law Party Tea Party Constitution Party	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty